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Saturday, December 1, 2012

The Grinch That Stole Thanksgiving

{the aftermath}

DISCLAIMER: This post is going to begin with a whinge and a moan but then I will transition back to the rainbows, sunflowers and lollipops Sara Louise that you know so well.There I was was, cleaned up, dressed up, and finally about to sit at the table and enjoy the Thanksgiving dinner I had been cooking for two days (OMFG... cooking Thanksgiving is no joke, it's like the Mount Everest of meals, you need a Sherpa with you while you cook it... luckily, Mrs. London was my Sherpa and she was the best little Sherpa ever). I'm not going to lie, I was tired, but I was happy and filled with love because here I was in France, lucky enough to be celebrating the holiday with family and a couple of scraglers (Thanksgiving just isn't Thanksgiving unless you have a scragler or two), even if I was the only American at the table. And then the thing that all American expats have to deal with at some point in our expat lives happened, I found myself face to face with the dreaded 'America Sucks Guy'. (I'm going to call him Rudy McRuderude. And FYI... Rudy McRuderude is English ).

We had just started eating and since the Wales vs. New Zealand rugby match was ending, I asked Mr. London if we could watch the NFL highlights from Thursday that he had so nicely DVRd for me. And that's when Rudy McRuderude piped up, "American football is bastardized rugby. Americans take everything and bastardize it".

Oh, fantastic.

But he was only getting warmed up. Here's some of the splatterings of the verbal diarrhea that spewed forth from his mouth and landed on the Thanksgiving table;

* Americans don't have passports (and you're saying this to the American who has had a passport since she was only a few months old and has lived overseas for the better part of the last decade), but yeah, none of us have passports. None of us at all.

* Obama only got re-elected because that "big wind blew in" (oh, are you a political analyst as well, how very nice for you that you know EVERYTHING).

* Why is the World Series a 'world' series when America is the only country that plays the sport (When I mentioned Japan's love of the game I was told that Japan only loves it because they were forced to play it after America dropped 'the bomb' on them... um, OK).

Why do people think it's OK to get all up in our grill about America? It's rude. I would never, ever do that to someone, especially someone that I had met only a few minutes before. Plus IT WAS THANKSGIVING, the most American of American holidays.

Thanksgiving is already a sad time for me, I miss 'home', I miss my friends, I miss my dad, and I'm generally feeling pretty darn homesick, so I really didn't need to hear Rudy McRuderude's opinions while he was eating the traditional Thanksgiving meal that I spent two days preparing. I had to constantly remind myself that I am a lady, and as such, jumping over the table and ripping his throat out would not be very becoming of me, or appropriate Thanksgiving behavior for that matter (nor would sneaking off to my room for a wee cry).

So even though I'm sure Rudy McRuderude is a nice man, although one completely lacking in manners, he tarnished my holiday a bit, and that blows.

But other than my encounter with Rudy McRuderude (who all American expats and Americans who travel will meet at some time, in one form or another), my weekend was perfect... we watched movies, bummed around on the couch, chatted and laughed at Fifty and Napoleon chasing each other and running into sliding glass doors, and Mrs. London and I had lots of bonding time in the kitchen.

Some people just do not know when it is best to keep their big mouths closed. I would have poured something over him, not wine that would have been too wasteful, but maybe a hot coffee where it hurts most! Enjoy the weekend Diane

They are all over the place, aren't they?! I've found my share of negativity here too. Every country has good things and bad things, but those who have manners don't go around bashing them. It sucks that it had to be on Thanksgiving though. One question, if he was anti-American, what was he doing enjoying your Thanksgiving meal? Talk about a contradiction!

So let me get this straight: He was at YOUR home and insulting the country that you come from on an AMERICAN holiday? I can't even believe it. I'm so sick of American bashing. It's way too easy and so cliche. Fine, Americans are a bunch of brutes who ruin everything yet there is obvious an interest in us as most of the world is up on our politics, watches our movies and tv shows and listens to our music. Yet we suck...

Oy vey! I'm so sorry he ruined your Tgives that you worked so hard for! Was anyone else aghast by his comments?

He was at Mr. London's home and since I was the only American at the table, of course no one else was aghast. And I couldn't agree more with what you said about us being brutes but everybody's interested... my favorite was when I saw a photo of the American flag being burned and almost everyone in it was wearing Nikes and one of them was drinking a can of Coke... um, ok.

you ARE a saint - I'm sorry, but insulting your host's homecountry and people does NOT make you a nice person! you should have told him that if he didn't like Americans he was welcome to go eat somewhere else :P

I don't understand. He was in YOUR home, eating YOUR meal, during one of YOUR cherished holidays - and he was bashing your country?! I am not American so I feel like I can give a perfectly objective opinion, which is this guy is TOTAL D*CK. (Sorry - not sure how your word filtering works but his actions are not deserving of a milder word.) I can't believe you didn't just throw him out (like a lady). :) I originally agreed with the others on the spilled gravy stuff - but then on second thought, he isn't deserving of any more food that you poured your time and love into making during the previous two days.

I hope for your sake that he NEVER enters your home again!! In general, my rule of thumb is: avoid people who bring bad energy. The world out there is already full enough of it. You don't need it in your home.

So sorry Sara - they are everywhere, and it is horrible luck that one popped up on this holiday that tends to be so hard on expats. I like my husband's approach, of discussing where Europe would be without the Americans... in the hands of the likes of Hitler or Stalin. Not quite a Thanksgiving, nor table topic, but even the thickest-skulled Rudies tend to understand that they might have stepped on some toes, and one of the things about Americans is, we don't roll over for anybody! (Trashing Americans on Thanksgiving, that's the same as criticizing the Queen on her Diamond Jubilee!) Congratulations for a successful Thanksgiving, only next year get Mrs. London to reise the guest list!

Oh my Sara, so sorry you had to endure that on Thanksgiving. Not sure I would have been so restrained if I had been the only American sitting at the table enjoying a meal that me and my little sherpa had prepared to celebrate the American holiday. I assume he was a friend of the London's since you were at the their house; too bad Mr. London didn't put him in his place.

Ugh, so sorry to hear that you had a run-in with THAT GUY on Thanksgiving of all days. I can deal with that at a bar or something, but I can't imagine how someone could be that rude when they're invited to an American holiday at someone else's home. Bad form, Rudy.

Glad to hear that the rest of the weekend made up for it, and the 'Fifty's First Thanksgiving' post was adorable. I'm a total sucker for a dog post....

That's the thing, we expect to run into 'that guy' because it happens a lot, but not at Thanksgiving! In a bar or a taxi or whatever, no problem, but when I've been mashing up potatoes and whipping up pies all day, I'm too tired to deal with it.

I have had my fair share of Mr. Rude's and fortunately most of the time they are making fun of ME and the USA in FRENCH and my husband gets flustered and tells me about it later- there are perks of not being fluent- ignorance is bliss right?

Proud of your good attitude and prepping that meal all by yourself- Impressive!

I love how people always say that Americans are ignorant. This guy seems pretty darn ignorant to me!! Kudos to you for keeping calm. I don't think I would have been able to! I'm glad your weekend took a turn for the better though :)

I couldn't comment through the mobile version, so I had to jump on the computer. I can't believe he would make such rude comments without any sort of regard to you sitting there at the table. He may feel one way, but he really should have kept his feelings to himself. You did a lot better than I would by keeping calm. I would definitely have given him a tongue lashing or two for his ignorance. I'm glad that you still had a good Thanksgiving with your loved ones.

I used to work for a guy like that, as you know i LOVE america and every time I was going he would squelch me and the country into the ground. I now have a wonderful Elvis lip curl from practicing it on a daily basis. Oh and have passed your message onto Santa.

Oh wow. Nice guy! I don't really understand why people have to be like that. I have heard people talking like that about Germans too and it is just rude. Americans have no passport? Never heard about that before!

Tell RudeFace that the Cubans always beat the American teams that come down there to play, and often those that come to the US as well, and then remind him that they also defect to play in the NL and AL.

and to think this guy was a guest at your table? sounds like he needs a good stuffing and bop on the head with a turkey baster, the..........turkey. sorry he pissed on your day, which sounds lovely and one you put a lot of effort into. hopefully you were able to partake of a bit of sherry afterwards and let others clean up (perhaps monsieur poopy pants could have been slotted in that job! haha)

Honestly, I've encountered more anti-Americanism in England than I have in any other country in which I've traveled -- but WHAT.THE.F*$! with the criticism when he's eating a meal which you made, with your country's tradition???? Keep your opinions to yourself dude -- so you hate Americans? Fine, but shut up when an American just made you a dinner. Ergh -- wish I were there. I would have beaten him up!!!

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Fáilte, Bienvenue, and Welcome!
After ten years living life as an American expat in Europe, I've returned to the States with my French husband and dog in tow.
Follow along on my adventures and misadventures as I bid adieu to the Gypsy lifestyle while trying to set down roots and navigate my new life as an ex-expat back 'home' again.